Catacombs of Priscilla

During the second day of orientation, I was able to visit the catacombs of Priscilla, one of many catacombs in Roma, but only a few of which are open to the public. The catacombs held, at one point, around 40,000 bodies. There are around 8 miles of underground tunnels which contain the tombs, some of which have not been opened.

This was also the burial place of many early Christians, including martyrs and even a few popes. The catacombs of Priscilla are names as such because of the woman whose property it was. Priscilla eventually donated the land to the Church to be used as a burial place. As more people died, more space was needed to properly bury these individuals, and so the Romans dug deeper to house them all—thus leaving the multi-level catacombs which can still be seen today. Within the catacombs, there are many beautiful frescos and images carved into rock, marble, or brick. Most noteworthy is the oldest known image of Our Lady, which is immaculately preserved, considering the conditions and age of the fresco.

The most inspiring aspect of the catacombs is, in fact, the many martyrs and faithful Christians who have been buried there over the years. Within the catacombs stand altars, which have been used for millennia by the earliest Christians. For years, followers of Christ in Rome celebrated the Holy Mass in the exact same spot, and we as a class were able to carry on that celebration. During that mass, the Rev. Monsignor gave a consoling homily on the topic of suffering and sacrifice. He mentioned that the martyrs, obviously, encountered much suffering and sacrifice in their lives as a result of following Christ. We, too, must do the same. We are a class that has given up much to be studying in Rome. We have sacrificed family, friends, and many familiarities back home for a new adventure in a foreign, often uncomfortable way of life. It’s not easy to give up the familiarity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in order to pursue Christ in a foreign world. Yet, I have two options. I could mourn the sacrifice made, which might only amplify the situation and produce little to no benefit. Or, I could surrender the sacrifice of family, friends, and everything else contained in the life left behind, and offer it for the Lord to sanctify. God can make holy all that we surrender to Him. Thus, when I encounter times of suffering and sacrifice, although miniscule in comparison to the trials of the martyrs, I surrender it to Christ, that He might make it holy and sanctify it.

La Vita Romana

After many good-byes, some rather emotional, and a long night of traveling over the Atlantic, around 50 seminarians, including myself, arrived in Rome to begin our journey of studying Sacred Theology. I was tired, anxious, nervous, and excited—emotions that I’m sure were shared among the group. After getting situated, we finally gathered in the Assumption chapel for evening prayer and Mass. I felt a certain level of anticipation within myself. I was excited to begin this new time in my life, and was anxious to get to know the people with whom I would be sharing these future experiences. Thus, we gathered attentively in the chapel, waiting for the Mass to start. The opening hymn was announced, the entire chapel stood up, and the first line of the song was sung with such a vibrant strength, as if the entire group of new men were letting out the emotions of the past days. The music was strong and beautiful—so much so that it literally gave me goosebumps. I knew I was on the brink of something extraordinary, something bigger than myself. I felt like I was embarking on a period of my life that would change me forever.

The following day, the majority of us spent a good portion of the day touring the Basilica di San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence). Here is kept the remains of St. Stephen, and St. Lawrence, most notably. It was inspiring to be in the presence of some of the most noted martyrs in the Catholic Church. The story of St. Lawrence’s brutal martyrdom is worth researching. In addition, we were able to visit the tomb of Pope Pius IX, who founded the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where I will be spending the next 4 years of my formation. Despite the wretched Roman summer heat, it was a blessing to be able to experience this gift with my fellow classmates, my fellow brothers. The Church history in Rome seems to be endless, so I hope never to take for granted what I am able to experience on a daily basis.